Harrisburg Scottish Dance Society

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What is Scottish Country Dance?

History & Style of the Dance

Scottish country dancing is a dance form with
roots stretching back for centuries. Participants are grouped into sets,
typically of 3, 4 or 5 couples arranged either in two lines (men facing women)
or in a square, and work together to dance a sequence of formations.

Figure
dances of the Scottish countryside called ‘country dances’ can be traced back
to the English Court of Elizabeth I. Often set to Scottish or Irish tunes,
these dances became very popular. The constant influence of various European
Courts meant that dancers were always absorbing new ideas of style and content.
The greatest flowering of this form of dance was in the assembly rooms of the
18th century. During this period of enlightenment, Edinburgh emulated the
European capitals, and dance assemblies flourished. Other cities and towns soon
followed and dancing became an accepted part of social interaction.

Scotland, of
course, had other traditions of dance and here the country dances incorporated
features from older strathspeys, reels, rants and jigs. The result was a style
of dance with which the whole of Scottish society could feel comfortable; the elegance
and courtesy of the ‘country dance’ and the energy and step precision of the
old ‘reels’.

While
country dances died out in England, they continued to flourish in Scotland. The
dancing masters, who travelled extensively throughout Europe were often skilled
musicians and helped to widen the repertoire to include newer, fashionable
dances such as quadrilles and polkas.

New dances are being written all the time,
and dances vary considerably in complexity and ease of dancing – thus careful
selection of dances for a program can cater for beginners with a couple of
months’ experience, or challenge and interest the most experienced dancers, or,
as more usually happens, provide a range over the evening to suit most tastes.

Scottish country dancing is very sociable –
it is common practice to dance with different partners during a night of
dancing – and thanks to the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, is
sufficiently popular and uniform that any Scottish country dancer can pack
their dance shoes and be welcomed by a local group almost anywhere in the
world.

Scottish country dance is mainly danced for
pleasure and enjoyment, but many groups also perform; there are even occasional
competitions. Although the basic steps and formations are easy to pick up, the
technique is being honed continuously so that at its highest levels it can now
be an extremely athletic, balletic dance form (although the majority of social dancers
don't take it as seriously as that).

There can be no dancing without music, and
Scottish country dancing has attracted some of the most talented musicians to
play for it. From the first chord to the final bow or curtsey, dancers are
inspired by the driving reels, jaunty jigs, smooth strathspeys or lilting slow
airs – leading to the popular expression “the music will tell you” (now also
immortalized in the name of a dance).

Today the
term ‘Scottish country dance’ embraces the social dances of Scotland which have
evolved from many traditions. The unique blend of wonderful music, disciplined
dancing, intricate floor patterns and sociability that appeals to so many
people, resulting in it being danced throughout the world by Scots and
non-Scots alike.

An excerpt from "The Firey Cross", part of the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon